On a Mission

Posted by Belinda | 0 comments

Merriam-Webster defines “Mission” as:

• A specific task with which a person or a group is charged

• A pre-established and often self-imposed objective or purpose <statement of the company’s mission

• Calling, vocation

Does your school have a mission statement?  Have you ever written down what you school is in place to do?   Have you ever thought about what you are in place to do—really?

Following our church’s annual leadership conference, we have been developing life mission statements.  Our church went through The Purpose-Driven Life on last year and now we are delving farther into purpose and God’s plan to use us.   I once loved doing this type of work in the corporate world; I even taught classes about the value of it.   If there is one facet of working that I miss, it would have to be the amount of time in my day to brainstorm, to reflect, and to plan.   I have found that since I have come home, I have quickly fallen into what Stephen Covey, in his Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, describes as the “urgent and important” quadrant.  My day is filled with putting out fires and answering the questions at the other end of “Mom!”  and “Honey!”   All of the “important, but not urgent” activities suffer as a result of my fire fighting.   This includes Bible study, my own education (formal and informal), my writing, exercise—the list goes on.    As much as I hate to confess it, I even dismissed the Bible study schedule that the church passed out because I initially thought, “I’ll never keep up with this!”  Thank God that, even though I am already a day behind, I did put Satan’s lie behind me and get started.

So, we began Bible study this year with a review of Jesus’ mission, and the eventual plan of, through a series of steps, understanding and writing our own purpose or mission statement.   This is where I started, with 5 positive characteristics about me and an action step to use them:

• I am smart (more of a confession to come against my own fears of inadequacy).  I will use my gifts in faith, teaching, leadership, and administration to offer suggestions in the ministries in which I serve, and continue to teach more.

• I smile (almost) all the time.  I can use my encouraging nature to minister to hurting people by listening to and praying with them more, and by sharing my own testimony.

• I am humble. I will cheer for others and be happy to work in the background as someone God can use without seeking personal glory.

• I am a nurturer. Not only will I continue to minister to husband and children at home where ministry starts, but I will give hugs and comfort to my church family.

• I enjoy stretching myself and growing personally.   This year, I will set stretch goals.

I skipped a step or two in getting to my mission statement, but I caught on to our pastor’s idea that this statement should energize me.   When you tell someone what you are about, it ought to stir something that is deep down inside, and it does not have to be eloquent or lengthy, nor does it have to mean anything to anyone but you.

So, in a nutshell, what is my purpose?    I teach.  I learn.  I encourage.  I inspire. As simplistic as it sounds, this is how I define myself as a family member, as a friend, as a professional, as an individual, and as a child of God.

Teach: to give instruction; to give knowledge or lessons in; to show by example or experience

Learn: to get knowledge of or skill in through study and instruction; to find out

Encourage: to give courage, hope, or confidence to; to help bring about or foster

Inspire:  to fill with great emotion; to move to action

So, how about you?    If you are experiencing the approaching the holiday/ end of the first semester burnout, or if your kids have you wondering why you began to homeschool in the first place, this might be a tremendous opportunity for you without taking too much of your time.    Whether you make your mission statement specific to your school, your family, or yourself as an individual, get ready to be renewed as you ponder the question, “What am I (my school, my family) in place to do—really?”

Happy seeking and finding.

Belinda Bullard is a wife and homeschooling mother of three, Belinda is an author and the owner of A Blessed Heritage Educational Resources, a literature-based history curriculum featuring African-American presence in history, as well as the contributions of other races to American history. A chemical engineer by formal education, she also serves as adjunct faculty for college distance learning programs. Belinda blogs at Simply Belinda and Chronicles of a Blessed Heritage.